Oklahoma Drug Deaths

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) State narcotics officials say the number of drug-related deaths in Oklahoma last year is likely to be the highest in state history.

Recent autopsy reports show 452 people died from drug use from January to September last year compared to 448 drug-related deaths during the same period in 2008.

Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics director Darrell Weaver says a record 612 people died of drug use in 2008.

Prescription drugs accounted for about 83 percent of the drug deaths, either by themselves or when combined with alcohol or street drugs. Narcotics bureau spokesman Mark Woodward says the number one killer is the prescription pain killer hydrocodone, followed by oxycodone.